We picked up the M6 in Manhattan in the rain, so it didn't look nearly as good as this. The model we drove cost $127,095.

Alex Davies / Business Insider

Just opening the trunk was a challenge. The lid is really heavy and difficult to lift, so I thought it was locked. At least it had enough room for all our bags.

Alex Davies / Business Insider

Then we had to fit everyone in the car. It has four seats, but it's really made for two people. Here's where I like the front seat to be, which didn't work for the person behind me. So I drove for several hours in an awkward position.

Alex Davies / Business Insider

For access to the second row, the front seats fold down, but it's still a tight fit.

Alex Davies / Business Insider

But before we went anywhere, I had to figure out the gear shifter. See what's missing?

BMW

There's no "park." That makes sense in a manual car. The M6 is an automatic.

Alex Davies / Business Insider

Eventually, I figured out what to do: Put the car in neutral, then put on the parking brake and turn off the engine. This error message comes up.

Alex Davies / Business Insider

It comes up here, too. Ignore it. With the foot off the brake, hit the engine button again to turn the car off. Only then does it display a "P."

Alex Davies / Business Insider

In Manhattan, this map view is not very helpful.

Alex Davies / Business Insider

But the Head-Up display projects directions onto the windshield, so that wasn't an issue. This is one of my favorite all-time car features, mostly because it just makes so much sense to put important information in the driver's peripheral vision.

Alex Davies / Business Insider

So we arrived at our destination Friday night, exhausted from traffic and learning to understand the BMW.

Alex Davies / Business Insider

Later in the weekend, the sun came out. So we dropped the top and took the M6 for a ride, and then it all clicked.

Alex Davies / Business Insider

It's a great-looking, muscular car.

Alex Davies / Business Insider

Under the hood is a 4.4-liter V8 engine that provides a huge 560 horsepower, enough to send the very heavy car from 0 to 60 mph in just four seconds.

Alex Davies / Business Insider

Despite its power and weight, the M6 has solid fuel economy numbers. It gets 14 mpg in the city, 20 on the highway. The big fuel tank lets you go over 400 miles without stopping to fill up.

Alex Davies / Business Insider

The Merino leather seats are very comfortable, especially when you can slide them back without crushing someone behind you.

Alex Davies / Business Insider

You can even take it to the mountains — a bag folds out from the trunk so you can put your skis in the car without getting anything dirty.

Alex Davies / Business Insider

But the M6 is really a summer car. Once you're cruising on a sunny day with the top down, it's just about perfect.